Man Diesel & Turbo acquires advanced propeller technology

New fuel-saving and energy-efficient propulsion opportunities are available from the MAN Alpha propeller program, which now fully integrates the Kappel tip fin propeller blade designs for both controllable pitch propellers and fixed pitch propellers.

Last month, the board of MAN Diesel & Turbo approved the company’s take-over of Kappel propeller–including designs, software, and intellectual property–together with continued cooperation with Mr. Jens Julius Kappel.

Mr. Kappel said after the contract signing: “We have had a good co-operation with MAN Diesel & Turbo for almost 10 years, and our joint projects have gone well. I hope that MAN will get the most out of the Kappel technology. Our cooperation does not end here–it will in fact become more intense”.

Compared to conventional designs, the Kappel propeller blades offer fuel savings of up to 6 percent. The improvement relates to the blade design alone, not relying on improvements from other components – such as a rudder bulb integrated with propeller and rudder.

Optimized propeller and propulsion efficiencies contribute to lowering the EEDI (Energy Efficiency Design Index) of ships, as every gram of fuel saved by means of higher propulsive efficiency results in more energy-efficient transportation.

The Kappel propellers exhibit lower pressure impulses than conventional designs which can allow the use for bigger and more efficient propellers because of the reduced clearancer required between hull and propeller tip. Combined with the G-type MAN B&W engine, further improvementsin propulsion efficiency can be exploited. The new ultra-long stroke low-speed G-type has a longer stroke and lower engine speed with increased engine efficiency – and deploys a larger and more efficient propeller for tomorrow’s energy-optimised aft ship designs. In that combination fuel consumption and CO2 emission are reduced by up to 10 percent.

Both new sales and the retrofit after sales business will benefit from the Kappel technology now owned by MAN Diesel & Turbo. In retrofit installations, especially in situations where ships undergo a changed operational profile with slow-steaming and de-rating of main engines, MAN Diesel & Turbo will be able to deliver superior propulsion solutions including state-of-the-art propeller designs offering even larger fuel savings.

April 4, 2012